General drive for spinning frames



H. A. OWEN 5 3 GENERAL DRIVE FOR SPINNING FRAMES Filed. April 10, 1930 invgnlor. Hemy A. @wen Patented Mar. 17, 1931 nuirsn stares rarest orifice A. OU /"EN, OF EGXBOEO, Mi

MASSACHUSETTS IvfIfiSSACI-IUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DAVIS & FUEBER Ql-IZNE CGMPANY, 0F NQRTZ-I ANDOVEB, I1EASACHUSETTS, A CORIPOBATIQN GE GENERAL nnrvn non srrnrnrive FRAMES Application filed April 10,

This invention relates generally to spinning frames and particularly to means employed to drive the various mechanisms incorporated therein, and has for its general object to provide a drive in which the power is distributed to the various yarn producing mechanisms by independent driving means the speed ratio of any one or more of which may be oh anged independently'of the others.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a driving system in which the speed of the various driven elements may be changed with a minimum of effort and in the least possible period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a driving system in which power is distributed to the various driven elements from a common or a aclr shaft incorporated in the machine. x

The object of the invention is further to provide a driving system in which the means employed to change the production speed and the character of the yarn are efiicient and flexible, and at the same time establish a positive speed ratio between the source of power and the driven element.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the production speed may be maintained constant while the factors regulating the character of the yarn are changed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a driving system in which all of the elements are concentrated at one end of the machine and in which all adjustments can be made from that end.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drive in which the direction of twist may be reversed without affecting the other functions of the machine or requiring additional mechanism to prevent a change of direction in the other el ments thereof A portion of the driving end of the spinning frame is illustrated embodying the elements constituting the invention and enough of the associated elements to present the principles of the invention. Inasmuch as the invention may be adapted to all types of spinning frames, the general structure of which are well known to thoseskilled in the art, it

1930. Serial in. 44mm.

is deemed unnecessary to describe and illus trate a complete spinning frame.

present invention provides the maximumfleaibility of adjustment combined with a positlvedistrlbutlon of power to the various elements. .As a result of such construction the frame may be quickly and easily adapted to produce any desirable character of yarn. A common or jack shaft is embodied in the machine and driven at a constant speed either from a line of shafting, an individual motor or any suitable source of power. Indi idual drives are provided connecting the jack shaft with each of the yarn producing mechanisms, namely, the spindles, the draft mechanism,

and in wool spinning frames, the twister tubes. Each of the drives is ad ustable to rotate its particular mechanism at a given speed wlthout affecting the speed of any of the remaining moving parts. In this manner a high degree of flexibility of adjustment is obtained.

In the specific embodiment illustrated the driving mechanism is mounted in a frame or casing l at the driving end of the machine. By concentrating the driving elements at one end of the machine all changes, replacements and adjustments therein are accomplished from a single point thus reducing the labor and time required to change the character of the yarn produced by the machine. An electric motor 2 is employed herein to operate the machine. Any suitable source of power may however be employed. Mounted in suitable bearings 3 inthe casing is a common driving or jack shaft 4 which may be connected to the motor 2 in any suitable manner. A desirable method is by meansof a chain 5 running upon sprocket 6 on the motor shaft and a sprocket upon the jack shaft 4:.

The spindles 8 are driven from the usual drum 9 in any manner as by means of the usual driving bands. The driving end of the drum 9 which is her in shown is provided with a supporting shaft 10 journalled in a bearing 1.1 on the frame 1. Fixed to the end of the shaft 10 is a sprocket 12 over which extends a chain 13-. 13 functions to drive the drum and is itself driven by a sprock Li which is one of a plurality of sprockets of different diameters on the jack shaft, any one of which may be substituted for the sprocket 14;. The of spr ckets on the jack shaft may or may not be integral with the sprocket 1%. As 1 istrating a dewith the sprocket 1d. The group i \J ma nor to maria: urni g engagement ratio betw en the jack shaft and he drum may be changed 1 11 1.1 J '7 i6 into the urnthe drawings. '11- place upon t by means of a setother sui l sirable structure tne two other sprockets l5 and 16 are shown integral and in a alignment of sprockets thus formed ere preferably splined on the shaft l or fiXC l thereto in a and permit relative axial motion ther with. The spcel l by shifting the sorockct r the sprocket ing plane which the sprocket occupies in k Alter select g the proper ill liOCliot tne groin in the jack sha'i b screw 1? or table locking device. The sprockets may be separate instead. of connected in a group as shown. In such case alocking device must be provided for each s rocket. Iiurthermore, it is not essential in either case that the sprockets be splined on the jack shaft since the locking device may act to transmit the power as well as retain the sprocket in the driving plane.

(ii i be ween centers of the shaft drum 9 and the jack shaft e must be provided theresome n take up the slack in the L 'ociret sizes are funcdrum. To accomplish this an idler s 18 is provided which is nounted on s 9 movable in a slot 2 n the frame 1. ih l ioned in a ,usted to u slack therein by moving he support 19 along the slot 20 and is helc in position by securing the frame.

The particular type of frame herein illustrated is especially adapted. to wool spinning and employ a series of twister tubes 21 associated with each spindle which function to induce a false twist the roving duringthe drawin operation. The t\ *ister tubes 21 ar driven from a drum 22 by means of the usual driving bands. Only the driven end of the drum 22 is shown, the other end tiereof be ing suitably ournallel in. the end fra A supporting shaft 23 is journalled in the casing support to the ch may be in or- 7 icce. 1.1-.ro be- The 26 which is one of a group of s; lar to the group of sprockets 1 Only one additional sprocket ,7 shown in this group. Several spr i no. be employed, however, w t changed to secure the desired s tween the jack shaft and the (11 m sprockets 26 and 27 are integra rid have driving engagement with the Such may be conveniently secured by splining the sprockets on a continuation of the spline upon which the other group of sprockets are mounted. The spr ckets 26 an. 27 are secured in the drivin plane by means of set screw 28.

When changing from the larger sprocket 27 to the small sprocket 26 the slack in the chain is taken up by means of an idler sprocket 29 mounted on asupportfiOmovable in a slot 31 in the casing. When the proper tension. has been established in the chain by moving the sprocket 29 into engagement therewith the support is secured in place by means of a nut 32 which engages the casing.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing a reversing device by means of which the drum 9 may be reversed to establish a reverse twist in the yarn without disturbing the direction of rotation of any of the other elements. Upon the sh .J" 10 is secured a gear 33 whicn constan enmeshed with a gear mounted on a shc-i-i shaft 35 rotatably mounted in a bearing fixed in the frame 1. To change the direc-- tion of rotation the sprocket l with the driving chain is removed from the shaft 10 and is made fast to the shaft After sue. change the slack in the driving chain 13 is taken up by moving the idler sprocket into position to maintain the required ten sion therein. After such change has been made the gear 12 then rotates the shaft which rotates the gear 34 secured to it which in turn rotates the gear 33 to drive toe drum 9 in a reverse direction.

The left hand draft roll is driven by a gear 87 mounted thereon which is one element in a train of gears leading to a gear 38 on the jack shaft. Interposed in this train of gearing is a gear 39 which is interchangeable with gears of various pitch diameters and meshes with the gear 37 acting to drive the draft roll. By substituting gears of different sizes for the gear 39 different speed ratios are obtained between the jack shaft and the draft roll to secure the desired production speed. To properly mesh the various sizes of. interchangeable gears they are mounted on a shaft 40 which may be moved in a slot 41 in the frame 1 which is concen trio with the axis of an intermediate shaft 42 having thereon a gear 43 which in turn meshes with a gear 44. The gear 44 is mounted on the shaft and to it are secured the interchangeable gears. Obviously the gears 43 and 44 will remain in mesh at all times while the shaft 40 is moved to bring the various interchangeable gears into mesh with the gear 37.

The right hand draft roll is driven in the usual manner by means of a transverse shaft 45 suitably mounted on the frame 1. On the left hand draft roll is mounted a bevel gear 46 meshing with and driving a similar gear 47 on the transverse shaft 45 at the yn IJU other end of which is secured a bevel gear 48 meshing with a gear 49 on the right'hand draft roll by means of which the latter is driven.

A suitable drive may be connected at some point in the draft roll driving system to drive the builder motion cam 50. Sucha drive is indicated generally at 51 and is connected to the right hand draft roll.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that each of the functions involved in the spinning process may be modified to any desired extent without affecting the remaining functions. Moreover such changes may be very quickly and easily made. If the speed ratios existing between the jack shaft and the various driven elements were to be changed in the usual way by removing the sprockets or other driving elements from the jack shaft and substituting others therefor, a great deal of useless time and labor would be expended. Such waste of time and energy is entirely eliminatedin the present device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. in a spinning frame, a ack shaft driven at a constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce false twist and to produce the final twist in the roving, an independent drive from the jack shaft to each of said mechanisms, and means on the jacl: shaft operable to change the speed ratio of one of said drives independently of the other.

2. In a spinning frame, a jack shaft driven t constant speed, independent mechanisms v it c act. respectively to produce false twist and o produce the final twist in the roving,

an incependent drive from the jack shaft-to each of said drives, and means on the jack shaft op rable to change the speed ratio of l nor of .:aid drives independently of the each of said mechanisms, means on the jack shaft operable to change the speed'ratio of either of said drives independently of the other, a draft mechanism, and independent means acting to crive the same from said jack shaft and having interchangeable speed determining elements to change the speed ratio thereof.

4. In a spinning frame, a jack-shaft driven at constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce false twist, to

prod ce a final twist and to draw the roving as it is spun, an independent drive from the jack shaft to each of said mechanisms having f r I 1 L 1 L T. 13L l lined in claim 5 together Wltll a Clr are mecnanism andindependent means actin to drive the sam having interchangeable speed determining elements to vary the speed ratio thereof.

7. In a spinning frame, a jack shaft driven at constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce false twist and to produce the final twist in the roving, independent chain drives connecting the jack shaft with each mechanism, and means on the jack shaft operable to change the speed ratio of one drive in dependently of the other. 8. In a spinningv frame having the elements defined in claim 7 together with a draft mechanism and independent means acting to drive the same having interchangeable speed determining elements to v ry the speed ratio thereof.

9. In a spinning frame, a yack shaft driven at constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce false twist 111 the roving. and to produce the final twist therein, a sprocket on each of said mechanisms, a chain passing over each sprocket, a

plurality of sprockets of diff rent diameters mounted on and slidable axially of said jack shaft operable selectively to cooperate with the sprockets on said mechanisms and said chains to drive each mechanism at a predetermined speed independently of the other mechanism, a draft mechanism, and driving means having interchangeable speed determining elements acting to drive the same from said 'j ack shaft.

10. In a spinning frame, a jack shaft driven at constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce a false twist and to produce the final twist in the roving, an independent drive for each mechanism, means on the jack shaft operable to change the speed ratio of either drive independently of the other, a mechanism, independent means acting to drive the same from said jack shart having interchangeable speed determinin elements to change the speed ratio thereof and means operable to eiiiect a reverse twist in the yarn without modifying the movement of the other driven elements.

11. In a spinning frame, a drive supporting frame at one end thereof, a jack shaft in the supporting frame driven at a constant speed, indepei lent mocha -s actin respectively to produce false twist in the roving, to produce the final twist in the roving, independent shatts for driving: each of said mechanisms extending; into the supporting frame, and neans in the supporting frame ror independently driving each of said shafts from the jack shaft and means on th jack shaft operable to change the speed ratio of each drive independently of the others.

12. In a spinning frame, a drive supporting frame at one end thereof, a ack shaft in the supporting frame driven at a constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce the final twist in the roving and to draw the roving as it is spun, independent shafts for drivingeach of said mechanisms extending into the supporting frame, means for drivin each of said shafts independently from the aclr shaft, the means for driving the shaft which drives the mechanisms producing the final twist being operable to effecta reverse twist in the yarn and means on the ack shaft operable to change the speed ratio of the drive producing the final twist.

13. In a spinning frame, a jack shaft driven at constant speed, independent mechanisms acting respectively to produce the final twist in the roving and to produce false twist therein, a driving element on each mechanism, a separate group of driving elements of different. sizes to co-operate with the driving element on each mechanism slidable axially of the jack shaft and operable selectively to change the speed ratio of the drive to each mechanism inde iendently of the other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to tliis specification.

HENRY A. OWEN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,796,391. Granted March 17, 1931, to

HENRY Av OWEN.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 56, claim 2, for "drives" read mechanisms; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the iiatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of April, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

